Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models may be differentiated by a new camera feature that could be exclusive to the larger Pro Max model, if a Chinese leaker is to be believed.
Since 2024, we've been hearing rumors about Apple's plans to introduce a variable aperture camera on the iPhone 18 Pro models – a first for any iPhone – but it was understood until now that the feature would come to both devices.
Leaker Ice Universe claims that's not the case. The iPhone 18 Pro Max will "exclusively feature a variable aperture," they said in a new post on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform.
"Looks like even Apple can't escape the reality that if you want the absolute best camera experience, you'll have to put up with a phone that weighs like a brick," the leaker added.
We already know a variable aperture lens is coming to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, thanks to the June leak of internal files from Apple supplier Tata Electronics. The files revealed that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a new Sony IMX905 sensor with variable aperture support.
The smaller iPhone 18 Pro model was not mentioned in the leaked file, but it wasn't clear if that meant it wouldn't get a variable aperture lens, or it the leaked files simply didn't include that information.
Apple has never implemented a variable aperture on an iPhone. From the iPhone 14 Pro through the iPhone 17 Pro, the main camera uses a fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture, meaning the lens remains fully open at all times when capturing images.
With a variable lens, the iPhone 18 Pro Max could allow users to manually shift the aperture, similar to on a DSLR camera. It could mean more control over depth of field, enabling sharper focus on subjects or smoother background blur. That all depends on how Apple implements the feature, of course. It may be more automated than that.
Beyond size and battery life, the last time Apple differentiated its iPhone Pro models was with the iPhone 15 Pro, which lacked the tetraprism telephoto lens that was included to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is rumored to be bigger and heavier than its predecessor this year. Apart from the rumored aperture lens, it is expected to be otherwise equivalent to its smaller sibling. Both iPhone 18 Pro models are set to launch next month alongside Apple's first foldable iPhone, the "iPhone Ultra." The most likely date for Apple's annual fall iPhone event is September 9.
